Fabric

This Japanese fabric features a series of four vertical bands sewn together and mounted on a wooden panel. The brown background is decorated with an ochre-coloured three-stripe motif (yose jima) on which rests a series of stylized chrysanthemums in polychrome lozenges (green, white, yellow, blue), arranged in horizontal, parallel but diagonally staggered rows.
The chrysanthemum (kiku) is a very important flower in the Japanese imagination: it is traditionally a symbol of longevity and is associated with autumn. Since the 12th century the chrysanthemum has also been the emblem of the Japanese imperial family, and for this reason it is recognized as a national flower.